by B C Morgan
I stood up and joined Malachi, before demanding to know who the other suitors were. It was easy to tell Hades hadn’t appreciated me demanding anything of him, but he relented and all the suitors were soon standing.
He introduced them to me as Nero, a shapeshifter who could take on the appearance of any living creature. Dorian, who was a dream walker, Lewis, a centaur and Troy, part incubus and part dream walker.
“So how do I choose between my suitors?” I inquired, not really caring, as I already knew Malachi would hold the first spot.
“That is by all means, your choice my dear girl. Date, torture or kill them, the ball is in your court.”
I saw Malachi glance around, but I could tell the nerves were not for his safety, but for the others.
He knew me too well, already able to tell which option I would choose.
I closed my eyes and focused on those I didn’t wish to survive, before honing in on my targets.
I made my way over to the centaur, where I placed a hand upon his bare chest making his eyes glaze over and bend to my will.
“My dear Lewis, would you be so kind as to kill Dorian for me in whatever fashion you desire and then return to me.”
Lewis gazed at me as I seized his mouth with mine, before pulling away and watching as he pulled out a broadsword.
Before Dorian could even react, Lewis was upon him with his broadsword cutting through the skin of his neck. A few creatures cheered as Dorian’s head fell onto the table, his lifeless eyes staring right at me.
I hadn’t got the same thrill when Lewis acted out my orders, so I knew I needed to be more inventive with my next victim.
Lewis soon returned to my side and I gave him another long lust filled kiss, as he looked upon me with adoration in his eyes.
I slid my hand across his chest, resting it over where his heart was situated, I then told him not to scream and he nodded.
In my free hand, I summoned a chain of fire and then whipped it across his chest, scorching his skin on impact and making blood flow across his tanned skin.
The only problem was, he wasn’t screaming. I hadn’t realised how much I enjoyed the sound until it wasn’t present.
“Okay Lewis, the next time I want you to scream and fill it with all the pain I am making you feel.”
His eyes widened as some of the haze began to disappear, before I wrapped the chain around his torso and his screams filled up the room.
By the time I was finished with him, his top half had been disconnected from his bottom half, the wound cauterised instantly.
Neither Troy nor Nero knew who would be my last victim, but I did. Nero wasn’t my choice not because I wanted Troy to be my groom, oh no. It was because I wanted Troy alive so I could revel in the conflict it would cause between him and Malachi. I wanted Malachi to win, at least I thought I did, but I also wanted to cause chaos and these two would be the best choice for that to occur.
I rounded on Nero and he knew he was my choice, he shifted into a great grizzly bear and swiped out at me with his sharp claws. Sweeping low, avoiding the onslaught, I tried to call forth my fire, but nothing happened. I was so distracted I didn’t see the claw coming in for a second swipe, until the bite of his claws was felt across my stomach.
My hands came to land on my stomach and when I pulled them away I was met with the sight of blood. Too much blood.
The bear roared in anger as it got ready to come for me probably to finish me off this time, but my bloodlust was diminishing as my own spilled out from me.
I heard a loud roar of anger, but it wasn’t registering. I couldn’t believe Nero had tried to kill me, how fucking dare he.
All I tried to do was incinerate him, was that so bad? Of course not, and in return, he gouges out my damn stomach.
The anger was returning, but I wasn’t healing fast enough to be of much use against the grisly, not in that exact moment anyhow.
I was drawn out of my internal ramblings by a series of gasps, I thought only I garnered that reaction down here.
My head snapped up to see, the bear who had returned to his human form, was lying flat on his back with Malachi sitting on his chest. He wasn’t even struggling as my sexy Incubus drained his life right out of him, only he didn’t.
For some weird reason he stopped right at the point of death, but he wouldn’t follow through. Instead he pounded his fists in Nero’s face.
The sounds of bones crunching and snapping resounded loudly, through the deathly quiet banquet. Hades had Malachi pulled off of the damn shifter’s body, I had been enjoying the visual, and then Semias was there stealing his life force in one swift move.
Malachi was before me in seconds, pulling me flush against his chest and slamming his mouth down upon mine.
14
Marcus
Surprisingly enough, I refused to give up the ghost, clinging to the faint life that continued to fight within my broken form. I wasn’t awake, but I was aware of my surroundings and the people milling about around me.
I could hear Ishira issuing orders, telling the healers to not give up. Less the same fate, that had stricken me, should befall them.
I couldn’t say at the time whether she meant it, but they clearly feared she did. I wasn’t sure why she was working so hard to keep me alive, although guilt could eat away at any soul, even Ishira’s.
That’s not to say she was callous or uncaring, far from it truthfully, but she didn’t hold the same qualms over preserving life like I did.
I tried to peel open my eyes, but the pain that engulfed me had been unbearable and I could feel the charred skin continue to flake off.
I sensed someone come closer, but luckily, they had the sense of mind to not try to touch me.
I opened my mouth, and felt the skin crack open adding to the unsurmountable pain I was already enduring.
I tried to say chain, but even I couldn’t understand the weird noise escaping from my lips. It was getting to the point where I had almost given up hope, on ever getting my message across. It was terrifying knowing my body would not let me die, so instead I would have to stay living in this torment indefinitely. But Ishira deserved more credit than I had ever given her as I felt Marcelle pierce through the fog in my head, trying to get to my thoughts to discover what it was I required.
I used that moment to scream out I needed my chain to be placed in my hands, having no idea just how painful that feat was going to prove.
It turned out my chain had in fact melted to my skin, and no one dared try to remove it, but even with Marcelle’s warning I still gave the go ahead, knowing it was my only chance of recovery.
The scream that followed was hoarse and animal like, as the chain was torn free from my skin and placed within my charred palm. The dog tag was placed central and the power flowed from the jewel, into my body.
The one positive thing was my jewel could never run out of energy. It was a relief, going by how quickly my body was devouring the power that was surging through me, jump starting my healing process and making the burnt skin fall off of my frame.
I heard someone gag and then proceed to vomit, as the smell of putrid flesh hit their nostrils. It was a necessary evil, something that had to happen before new skin could form and begin to weave itself across my bones.
I had to do one limb at a time at a time, and my torso would take the longest. Not just because the area was larger but also because of all the organs that had sustained damage as well.
Now let me elaborate on one of my previous comments, the reason why my jewel could never run out, was because there was no actual power held within it. It was enchanted to make it so I would never age, but it could not heal me or make me stronger.
That power was already within me, but it became unruly when my father died, and even more after my mother and Alistaire. The only way I could control it was to channel it through my Jewel first, that way my power would never grow stronger than what I felt I could handle.
It took a week for my body t
o rejuvenate and another couple of days before I could open my eyes, without passing out from utter exhaustion.
By the time I opened my eyes and held on to my consciousness, Ishira was standing there waiting, the only thing was I had no idea who she was in that moment.
She had bright orange hair that was braided at the back and fell over her shoulder with orange eyes that seemed to glow. Her face was pale as was the rest of her, and she was wearing light brown leather trousers, with ankle boots and an orange tank top. Her body was willowy, but she could never be mistaken for weak. Not with the fire that was burning within her eyes and that was when my memory caught up with me. This was the exact person I had seen when Ishira released her flames for the first time, more than likely causing quite a stir amongst the other rebels.
“Ishira, I can’t believe you let go of your flames for me,” I stated, rather dumbly.
“I did you a great dis-service Marcus, I could not allow that to continue. I should never have lost control like I did, and I am eternally sorry.”
“It’s okay, although I think I have earnt the right to know what caused it in the first place,” I stated, seeing her eyes cloud over with unspoken grief.
“As you know there are many different types of Nymphs, even those that spend their time ‘down there’ and we often have problems with the others of our kind. We rarely associate with the others, it’s not hostility, more preservation. But it is different for the ones who are a part of your faction, we work together, and we have realised the harmony and joy that comes with that.
Before I came here, I never thought a death of a water Nymph would affect me so strongly, but now I know better. Pearl was found Marcus; she had been tortured. The worst part, is she was boiled alive, she never had the chance to escape. And I know who did it, I may not have proof but it is too much of a coincidence for it to not be her.”
I didn’t even give Ishira the chance to explain as the name, Nyakesh, fell from my lips and her eyes zeroed in on mine. It was clear we both suspected the same person, seeing as it had been Pearl who tricked Unya into walking into a trap, and then not long after disappeared into thin air. None of the water Nymphs had been able to connect with her, I was loathed to admit I had figured she had left with Nyakesh and the others who had been loyal to her. Never for a second had I guessed the truth had been a lot more sinister.
The hardest part was with Pearl gone, retrieving answers as to why she tricked Unya in the first place and why she had been murdered, was going to be next to impossible to do.
I was thoroughly relived when Janelle returned from her trip to London, if not for any other reason than David driving everyone crazy with his worrying.
“Please take him with you next time,” I said, as I pulled her into my arms, giving her time to get over her shock at seeing me alive and better than ever.
“David is many things, but stealthy is not one of them. His gift makes him a little cocky, it’s well deserved don’t get me wrong, but some approaches fair better when subtlety is involved.”
“Why would you need stealth?” I asked, feeling rather suspicious, and I hated that I had become someone who couldn’t trust in the people who had always been there. But with Nyakesh being left alone to lead these people for so long, it’s no wonder they hadn’t all stayed loyal to me, especially those she recruited once I left.
Those were the ones I was finding the most difficulty in trusting, it really was infuriating, but I knew I had to take it slow and somehow work out the traitors who were amongst us.
“It’s personal Marcus, but I was trying to find a way to help you, I don’t feel anywhere quite as bad as I did when I failed in my efforts. I can’t believe how well you healed; I can’t even tell you were ever knocking at death’s door.”
I gave her a lopsided smile before moving away, I could tell she was puzzled up until David wrapped his arms around her from behind and lifted her off the ground. She let out a shriek and he dropped her, unceremoniously, so her backside hit the ground.
She jumped up and whirled around punching him straight in the jaw, clearly, he could have stopped it, but he always let her get at least one hit in.
I quickly moved away as they began shouting at one another, knowing it would blow over quickly, without any real conflict. It always puzzled me how they could act that way, but never make any move to join together.
I may not have been an expert in love, after Nya and Kat but it was clear to see how these two felt. I just hoped they didn’t wait until it was too late, knowing death could be waiting right around the corner for any one of us.
15
Unya
I was standing in front of a full body mirror in a black gown, it had a corset top that cinched in at the waist and a full-length skirt with layer after layer of lace falling to the ground.
There was a three-foot train falling behind me and spread out on the floor, with a black netted veil covering my pale face. I pulled it back and saw a hollow look within my eyes, knowing today I would be married and then there would be no escape.
My soon to be husband entered the room and came to stand behind me, our eyes locked in the mirror and his were filled with a predatory look. I had no idea what waited for us after this day, but I knew it would destroy me. He laid his hands upon my waist, squeezing tight enough to leave individual bruises where his fingers were and all that left my lips was his name “Troy.”
I had awoken from yet another dream about this damn wedding, why was the groom always Troy, did my subconscious know something that I didn’t.
If that wasn’t bad enough Yana decided she would take on the task of helping me to pick out my wedding dress, I would pick the colour and she would get it made. Whether I liked it or not, I would have to wear it.
“I’ve decided I want a different dress depending on who I marry, I don’t know why but something tells me that if Troy should win, then the colour has to be black.”
“Ooh how unconventional, I love it good choice, black like his soul,” said Yana in a sing song voice.
“If its Malachi then I want it ivory and cobalt blue, just like his eyes.”
“That’s almost romantic Unya, let’s hope for your sake he wins then, clearly he is the one you would prefer.”
I didn’t bother to respond instead I left her sitting in my room, as I escaped with no destination in mind.
I prowled the empty hallway, that never seemed to have an end in sight, when I came across a door that was ajar. Curiosity got the better of me as I moved closer and pushed it open a little bit more.
My eyes grew wider as I witnessed Troy in the act of sex with the other Nymph who had tried to stake claim to Malachi.
Her head was thrown back in pleasure, as he pounded her hard, pulling her hair so tight I’m surprised it didn’t disengage from her scalp. I could hear flesh slapping together joined by grunting coming from Troy.
He lifted his head up, his eyes locking onto my own and a sly smile formed on his lips. She continued to cry out, and then he was biting down on her shoulder, while still looking straight at me. It was in that moment I realised her screams were no longer of pleasure as he drained the life force right out of her, only stopping and disengaging himself when she fell to the floor resembling nothing more than a lifeless husk.
I chose that moment to close the door and hurry back to my room, knowing I could not let that monster win. Even if he called to the darker side of me, I somehow knew I would never know an ounce of happiness if I spent my life with him.
It was the next day when I saw Malachi again but instead of his usual aloofness, where he tried to pretend he wanted to be around me but thinking of a quick escape plan instead, this time he swept me up in his arms and kissed me as though his life depended on it.
I couldn’t help but wrap my legs around his waist as he trailed kisses down the side of my neck and across my collarbone, and I couldn’t help the heady moan that escaped my mouth.
He pulled away, but not before capturing my
mouth once more with his, then he lowered me to the ground and refused to let go.
“That’sa hello I can get behind,” I stated, with an exaggerated wink, which made him laugh and filled me with thrills at the sound.
“I’m going to be doing something very stupid soon, I guess I just needed a little bit of happiness before I did.”
“What are you doing Malachi?”
“I’m going to confront Hades, it’s a shame you can’t be there, but he would never answer my questions if he knew you were.”
He said this with a strange look in his eyes, almost as though he was trying to get me to find a way to be there without Hades knowing.
“Will it be dangerous for you?”
“Confronting Hades always carries a risk, he’ll rarely do anything, but he has many creatures that will carry out his orders without a second thought. The other reason I came here was because you once asked me to shed some light on a couple of things I have said before. I’ve been trying to put it off, but you deserve to know, if that’s what you still want.”
I nodded my head, afraid to utter a single word in case he changed his mind and took the offer back.
“I didn’t want to tell this to the new you, but now I realise I have been selfish. Holding onto the past instead of embracing the future, I guess now, I don’t want to lose my life without you garnering the answers you deserve.
It has long been believed that every creature, no matter what species, has one destined true mate. Finding them is a rarity as most refuse to ever look beyond their own kind. But fate and love know no prejudice. It was after our agreement was struck and we shared our second kiss, that I realised I had never been so blown away. The molten heat that was traversing through my body was something I had never felt before, it shook me to my very core. That was why I disappeared, I needed to figure out what it meant. I never believed in all that fated crap, but there was no other explanation for it.